However, firms have been able to continue activities pending the outcome of their appeal to the PAC on the enforcement notice.

Friends of the Earth mounted a judicial review challenge, claiming the failure to halt extraction brought planning laws in Northern Ireland into ridicule.

Counsel for the group likened the alleged breach to something from a primitive dictatorship.

The court heard Lough Neagh has internationally recognised environmental significance, and been classed as an area of special scientific interest.

It was contended that under Environmental Impact Assessment law the minister acted unlawfully.

But lawyers representing the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs contended that the environmental group had “grossly overstated” the impact of dredging on Lough Neagh.

The court also heard sand dredging firms have spent £500,000 on studies to back their case that they are causing no environmental harm to Lough Neagh.

Steps have been taken to ensure they have authority for both retrospective and future extractions, the companies’ legal representatives submitted.

Dismissing the judicial review challenge in November, Mr Justice Maguire held that the minister’s objective was to secure a situation where steps were taken to ensure the situation had to be confronted by the dredging firms.

Acknowledging that his determination will not settle the issue, the judge pointed out that the minister has not ruled out the option of serving a stop notice in future.

His ruling is now set to come under further scrutiny when the case goes before the Court of Appeal.